Topps baseball cards have been collecting and trading icons of the game for decades. As with every new season of Major League Baseball, Topps releases new card sets chronicling the stars, rookie, and key moments from the previous year. Their 2022 offerings did not disappoint, featuring some of the most sought-after cardboard in recent memory. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best and most valuable cards collectors scrambled to find in Topps’ 2022 baseball card releases.
Perhaps the most hyped rookie cards of 2022 were those featuring Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. Widely considered the top prospect in baseball, Franco’s spectacular 2021 debut campaign left collectors ravenous for his newest Topps cards. Two of his most impactful rookies came in the 2022 Topps Series 1 release. The Franco green parallel /99 sparkled for enthusiast seeking a short printed variation. It was his red foil variant /10 that immediately shot to the top of want lists. Low serial numbers combined with Franco’s so-called “five-tool” talents made this an iconic card to own.
Another highly-coveted new star on the rise was Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Just as with Franco, collectors zeroed in on Julio’s short printed parallels from Series 1. His gold /70 parallel emerged as an affordable premium option for J-Rod fans. But the true whale among his rookies had to be the gold wave refractor parallel, limited to just /5 copies. With Rodriguez continuing his dominance and Seattle buzzing with renewed playoff hopes, these early Julio cards proved to be wise long term speculations.
Veteran superstars routinely found themselves featured across the 2022 Topps landscape as well. For example, New York Yankee slugger Aaron Judge delivered one of the most jaw-dropping home run campaigns in MLB history. Naturally, Topps capitalized on Judgianama with coveted inserts from Heritage and Chrome. The true blockbuster might very well be Judge’s stunning Topps Finest Auto /5. As one of just five copies featuring the emerging AL MVP’s autograph, this remains as one of the most elite Topps cards pulled all year.
Other all-time greats like Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Paul Goldschmidt also enjoyed breaks as sought-after veteran centerpieces. Trout’s Topps Finest negative parallel /99 pulled focus among Angel collectors. Meanwhile, Goldschmidt’s near-statue worthy 2022 campaign prompted a scramble for his Topps Series 2 negative refractor /10. Such modern day superstars ensured beloved franchises stayed in the spotlight of the card collecting world.
Nostalgia remained a driving force behind many collectors as well. Sets like Topps Allen & Ginter and Topps Heritage used retro designs to spotlight memorable players and moments from baseball history. This included legendary icons like Hank Aaron, whose late career Montreal Expos uniform variation /99 captivated old school fans. Heritage High Numbers also highlighted overlooked talent, with San Francisco Giant reliever Vida Blue’s /99 parallel emerging a surprising hot ticket. Even full teams found renewed interest, like Rickey Henderson’s Oakland A’s uniform on display in many a kid’s binders in the 80s resurfacing frequently in breaks across 2022.
Perhaps no card symbolized the convergence of history and the present quite like Topps United. Featuring modern superstars autographed alongside the legends that inspired them, United became a true collector’s set. A card pairing Mike Trout’s auto with that of Mickey Mantle naturally blew collectors minds. While a Roberto Clemente / Jackie Robinson dual auto reached the stratosphere in value. Such dual signed legends capped off 2022 as truly unprecedented collector’s items.
Of course, no Topps baseball release would be complete without some truly unique parallels and serial numbered pulls creating buzz. Heritage High Number yielded gems like a /5 Kevin Millar parallel for Red Sox diehards. While Series 2 High Number provided highlights like a /10 Tom Candiotti Cleveland Indians card awing 90s kids. Even flagship products got in on the low numbered action. Topps Finest offered up hits like a Carlos Correa Twin parallel /5 sparking Astros interest.
While prices cooled from the speculative highs of the peak pandemic period of 2020-2021, demand absolutely did not waver for flagship Topps products in 2022. The combination of star talent like Acuna, Soto and Guerrero combined with evergreen veterans from Trout to Ohtani ensured wax and hobby boxes stayed largely allocated. Parallel and memorabilia card hits from releases like Update, Stadium Club and Chrome generated buzz nearly each week it seemed online. As MLB’s next generation constantly evolves, Topps continues to capture the sport for a new era of collectors with 2022 representing another landmark year for the cardboard behemoth. Whether chasing stars, reminiscing the past, or striking gold in a break – Topps kept baseball fans engaged throughout.
In summary, 2022 saw Topps baseball deliver some true heavyweight cards for the ages. Rookies like Franco and J-Rod kicked off what could be Hall of Fame careers in style. Meanwhile, Trout, Judge and company fueled modern day demand. Vintage releases also hit home runs by pairing classic uniforms with sought-after parallels. Whether hunting for singles, teams, or the chase of 1/1 memorabilia card treasures – Topps provided year-long collecting opportunities. With massive names like Acuna and Guerrero still early in their primes, 2023 is sure to remain another massive year for the hobby. But 2022 cemented itself as a true watershed release that optimized both nostalgia and new school collecting.
